R. K. Cook's video: Georgia Pond Is Wildlife Wonderland

HANK WILDING'S JOURNAL: I call it the Frog Pond; it's really just a big, muddy hole in the ground that fills up with rainwater a couple of times a year. And when it does, the critters love it as much as I do. Here's what you'll see in this montage, in order of appearance: • Bullfrogs — what would a frog pond be without these croakers? Check out the crude, Tom Sawyer-worthy little raft ole Hank built; I put a plastic bullfrog decoy aboard (in center) and lo and behold, a real bullfrog and a painted turtle came along for the ride! • A Common Snapping Turtle drifting along • Dragonflies mating in their own unique fashion. Notice how they vibrate their wings in unison. • A very young, very cute, half dollar-sized Eastern Painted Turtle • A young Northern Water Snake; cute in my book, maybe not in yours • An adult Eastern Black Racer; five feet long, at least • An fierce-visaged adolescent Eastern Black Racer, poised to strike • An adult Northern Water Snake that ole Hank nearly stepped on. Check out the icy stare in the closeup. • A young Whitetail Buck, probably wishing he had a little doe ... • Pretty 'Possum in a Sweet Gum Tree — Not the title of a country song, but it should be. Looks almost like a panda bear, doesn't he? Except for those wicked fangs. • Bull Thistle — I'm not cussin' at ya! That's the name of this prickly but beautimous wildflower. Notice the gossamer seeds blowing in the breeze. • Some kinda brilliant yellow fungus growing on a log — just thought it was purty • An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail feasting upon a Pink Native Azalea • A male Carolina Anole out for a languid stroll • A male Eastern Fence Lizard taking his ease; those are dandelion seeds floating around him • An adult Eastern Painted Turtle reacting quite humanly to irritating insects • I believe this is a salamander egg mass, or some gelatinous thingie left behind by an alien visitor And finally, the pond at dusk showcasing the frogs in all their full-throated vigor. So there you have the pond when it's full. When the Georgia sun is scorching down in summertime, it's another story — a sad one. How sad? Watch the video "The Death of a Georgia Pond" on this channel and you'll see.